Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana Sports Program is pleased to announce that it’s assisting U.S. Paralympics, a division of the U.S. Olympic Committee, with distribution of applications for the 2008 International Paralympic Academy. Thirty-five student athletes with physical disabilities and 15 coaches and teachers will win a trip to the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, Sept. 5-11, 2008.

To enter, student athletes (ages 12-18), coaches and teachers must fill out an application, which includes writing a 500-word essay focused on the role that sports has played in their lives, as well as include letters of recommendation. Applications are available at www.usparalympics.org. Deadline to enter is April 1, 2008.

Patrick Dean, the Coordinator of the Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana Sports Program says, “The Paralympic Academy is a life changing experience for the young people of RHI Sports.  Giving youth with physical disabilities the opportunity to experience international travel in an environment that focuses on a person’s ability rather than their disability is exactly what our kid’s need.”   Find out more at rhin.com

In the Wheelchair Sports 2007 National Junior Championships, Josh Swoverland posted 1st place finishes in the 200m, 400m, and 800m track events. He also took 1st place in the 50m, 100m, and 200m freestyle, and 50m backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly swimming events. These accomplishments helped RHISP place 3rd overall in the small teams division–the first team award ever received by the junior track and field team for RHISP!